2024 Sports Picture Story

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-Limited resources are a huge problem for the an estimated 2,500 people that play baseball in Uganda. A player runs the...

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-Limited resources are a huge problem for the an estimated 2,500 people that play baseball in Uganda. A player runs the bases bare footed at the National field in Guyaza.(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-Dennis Kazumba throws an old tire to build strength outside his home in Guyaza, Uganda. While living in poverty, Kasumba tries...

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-Dennis Kazumba throws an old tire to build strength outside his home in Guyaza, Uganda. While living in poverty, Kasumba tries to salvage trash to help build strength in hopes of playing for Major League Baseball. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-Dennis Kasumba concentrates before batting practice at the National field in Guyaza, Uganda. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-Dennis Kasumba concentrates before batting practice at the National field in Guyaza, Uganda. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Gayaza, Uganda April 1, 2023-In the draining humidity, Dennis Kasumba digs a ditch, for a workout, that will be the new outhouse for a small...

Gayaza, Uganda April 1, 2023-In the draining humidity, Dennis Kasumba digs a ditch, for a workout, that will be the new outhouse for a small neighborhood in Guyana, Uganda. With the lack of training equipment, Kasumba gets creative with the tools that are available. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Gayaza, Uganda April 1, 2023-Dennis Kasumba teaches a disabled child to play baseball at St. Lilian Jubilee Home in Guyaza, Uganda. Some of the players...

Gayaza, Uganda April 1, 2023-Dennis Kasumba teaches a disabled child to play baseball at St. Lilian Jubilee Home in Guyaza, Uganda. Some of the players along with their coach travel to the church-run home for disabled and disadvantaged children at least once a week. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-After having one meal for the day, Dennis Kazumba works out late at night with old tires outside his home in...

Gayaza, Uganda April , 2023-After having one meal for the day, Dennis Kazumba works out late at night with old tires outside his home in Guyaza, Uganda. While living in poverty, Kasumba tries to salvage trash to help build strength in hopes of playing for Major League Baseball. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Gayaza, Uganda April 1, 2023-Baseball players stretch before a game as herds of cows and Ankole cattle graze in the outfield at the National field...

Gayaza, Uganda April 1, 2023-Baseball players stretch before a game as herds of cows and Ankole cattle graze in the outfield at the National field in Guyaza, Uganda. Most of the players that play on the field are orphaned. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Evangelia Platanioti of Greece performs her solo routine while competing in the ArtisticSwimming Women's Solo Free Final on day six of the Fukuoka 2023 World...

Evangelia Platanioti of Greece performs her solo routine while competing in the ArtisticSwimming Women's Solo Free Final on day six of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships on July 19, 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan

Jeremy Desplanches of Switzerland and Josh Gilbert of New Zealand fly off the blocks in the Men's 100m Breaststroke Heats on day one of the...

Jeremy Desplanches of Switzerland and Josh Gilbert of New Zealand fly off the blocks in the Men's 100m Breaststroke Heats on day one of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships on July 23, 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Leonie Beck of Germany fights her way through the traffic and past all the other competitors to take the Gold Medal and become World Champion...

Leonie Beck of Germany fights her way through the traffic and past all the other competitors to take the Gold Medal and become World Champion in the Open Water Women's 10km on day one of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships at Seaside Momochi Beach Park on July 15, 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Brandon Loschiavo and Jordan Rzepka of the United States are watched closely by the judges During the Men's Synchronized 10m Platform Final on day four...

Brandon Loschiavo and Jordan Rzepka of the United States are watched closely by the judges During the Men's Synchronized 10m Platform Final on day four of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships on July 17, 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Samuel Fricker of Australia trains for the Men's 3m Springboard Preliminaries on day one of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships at Fukuoka Prefectural Pool...

Samuel Fricker of Australia trains for the Men's 3m Springboard Preliminaries on day one of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships at Fukuoka Prefectural Pool on July 14, 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Members of Team China dive into the pool to begin their routine in the Artistic Swimming Team Technical Final on day five of the Fukuoka...

Members of Team China dive into the pool to begin their routine in the Artistic Swimming Team Technical Final on day five of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships at Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall A on July 18, 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Emily Chinnock of Australia dives past the Fukuoka Dome during the Women's High Diving on day one of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships, July...

Emily Chinnock of Australia dives past the Fukuoka Dome during the Women's High Diving on day one of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships, July 25, 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan.

21-year-old, 176-pound boxer Theon Davis, right, warms up with Arustus Muhammad as he prepares for his bout on a night of quarter-final matches at the...

21-year-old, 176-pound boxer Theon Davis, right, warms up with Arustus Muhammad as he prepares for his bout on a night of quarter-final matches at the 100th Chicago Golden Gloves tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois. As a promising young boxer, Olympic hopeful Davis knows how to bob and weave. He has also had to learn how to juggle. The 21-year-old Davis might be working his cashier shift at a Circle K any given night. Some mornings, he can give 2-year-old daughter Harmony a kiss and get one in return as he drops her off at daycare. Just about every day, he’s dripping pools of sweat. He spends hours sparring and hitting the bags and lifting weights and running laps around a basketball court at a recreation center in Garfield Park, the neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side where he grew up. It’s a grueling routine. He has no doubts about it. “I was born to do this,” he says.

Davis grabs gloves as he trains the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament boxing match at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Davis has...

Davis grabs gloves as he trains the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament boxing match at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Davis has been training for four years under George Hernandez at the Garfield Park Fieldhouse, a near-century-old facility with a gold-leafed dome and ornate two-story rotunda. It is a bit rough around the edges these days, like the neighborhood it serves. The boxing gym Ñ down a hallway in a room that was once a police department Ñ is hardly a fancy operation.

Davis, right, spars with another boxer as he trains for the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago....

Davis, right, spars with another boxer as he trains for the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. One of the nation's top amateurs in his his weight class, Davis is on a path he envisions taking him from the rough West Side of Chicago to the Olympics and a professional career. Above all, he wants to provide for his 2-year-old daughter and buy his mom a house. ÒI was born to do this,Ó he said. ÒFor me, itÕs just something IÕm supposed to do.Ó

Photos of boxers over the years are displayed at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Theon Davis has been training for four...

Photos of boxers over the years are displayed at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Theon Davis has been training for four years under George Hernandez at the Garfield Park Fieldhouse, a near-century-old facility with a gold-leafed dome and ornate two-story rotunda. It is a bit rough around the edges these days, like the neighborhood it serves. The boxing gym Ñ down a hallway in a room that was once a police department Ñ is hardly a fancy operation. Some floor tiles are chipped. The paint is, too, in spots.

Davis trains for the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament boxing match at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Davis, ranked No. 3 at...

Davis trains for the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament boxing match at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Davis, ranked No. 3 at 176 pounds by USA Boxing, was one of 470 fighters with dreams big and small who added their names to a piece of history this spring. They entered the 100th edition of the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament, a storied event that counts Joe Louis, Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali -- when he was Cassius Clay -- as past champions.

Boxers watch Davis spar with another boxer as he trains at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Coach Hernandez has been involved...

Boxers watch Davis spar with another boxer as he trains at Garfield Park Boxing Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Chicago. Coach Hernandez has been involved in the sport as an amateur fighter and trainer since the 1960s. He says thousands of boxers Ñ male and female Ñ have passed through the program at Garfield Park in the 36 years heÕs been running it. That includes Olympians and pros like Bennett, and Davis could soon join that list.

Davis walks home with his daughter Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Chicago. ÒIÕm not the only one with a child to look out for, care...

Davis walks home with his daughter Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Chicago. ÒIÕm not the only one with a child to look out for, care for,Ó Davis says. ÒIÕm not the only one that wants better for themselves. ThatÕs the main thing thatÕs on my mind. IÕm sure itÕs on their minds, too. ItÕs a conversation we always have Ñ this is what we want for ourselves and what we want out of this game of boxing. Boxing is not forever. All good things are gonna come to an end. WeÕre trying to stay on course, keep our mind on the positives.Ó

Cicero Stadium is packed with people on the final night of the 100th year of the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament Sunday, April 16, 2023,...

Cicero Stadium is packed with people on the final night of the 100th year of the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament Sunday, April 16, 2023, in Cicero, Illinois. Al Capone used to hold court in a banquet room that looks straight out of Bavaria with original cypress beams and sconces. The building has tunnels, now sealed, from the Prohibition era.

Davis is checked out by an official doctor on a night of quarter-final boxing matches at the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023,...

Davis is checked out by an official doctor on a night of quarter-final boxing matches at the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois.

After all the boxers have weighed in, Sam Colonna posts the bout order and corner assignments on a night of quarter-final boxing matches at the...

After all the boxers have weighed in, Sam Colonna posts the bout order and corner assignments on a night of quarter-final boxing matches at the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois. Colonna, who runs his gym out of the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, has over 30 years of experience training boxers at all levels, including several world champions.

Davis, right, fights Kameron Powell in a 176-pound quarter-final boxing match at the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Cicero Stadium in...

Davis, right, fights Kameron Powell in a 176-pound quarter-final boxing match at the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois. Davis, who trains out of Garfield Park Boxing Gym in Chicago, won the bout and advanced to the finals.

Davis, center, celebrates with friends after defeating Camacho in the championship bout on the final night of the 100th year of the Chicago Golden Gloves...

Davis, center, celebrates with friends after defeating Camacho in the championship bout on the final night of the 100th year of the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament Sunday, April 16, 2023, in Cicero, Illinois. Davis was all smiles afterward. Hernandez seemed relieved. Both said the fight was closer than it needed to be. Hernandez needled his protŽgŽ for showboating, saying, ÒYou need to look good, you had to have flowers on you.Ó ÒNah,Ó Davis replied. ÒIt wasnÕt about looking good. I was trying to have some fun.Ó